First Nations want management control of Ogoki Forest

The northwestern Ontario First Nations of Aroland, Eabametoong and Marten Falls have signed a forest tenure agreement on the Ogoki Forest in northwestern Ontario.

The three First Nations say they will play “a leading role in forest governance” toward obtaining a long-term forest license for the Ogoki Forest Management Unit.

The communities want take control of forest management planning, harvesting, road construction, silviculture, environmental monitoring, reporting and also establish forest-based First Nations business ventures.

Located 250 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, the Ogoki Forest is considered part of the traditional land of the communities in providing a place to hunt, fish, trap, and provide medicine.

Link to full article – http://www.northernontariobusiness.com/Industry-News/aboriginal-businesses/2015/03/First-Nations-want-management-control-of-Ogoki-Forest.aspx

The trapper feels he took ‘reasonable precautions’ to protect the public. Well, I strongly disagree.

Last December, a friend and I were walking along a public snowmobile trail on Crown Land just north of Peterborough, Ont., with my two yellow labs. My dog George was killed that day by a baited conibear trap set beside the trail.

Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF), through a local Conservation Officer, has investigated the death and informed us by telephone that the investigation is closed; the trapper broke no laws.

I have to ask: How can it be completely legal to put a lethal, baited trap right on a public trail? It was bad enough with my pet. What if I’d been walking with a child?

Link to full article – http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/valerie-strain/baited-trap-dog_b_6961554.html

Highway 6 saved!

MTO blinks first, provides funds for critical culvert fix

ESPANOLA—Great news arrived recently concerning funding for the 40-year-old Black Creek culvert on Highway 6 on the outskirts of the Town of Espanola. The culvert is on a section of the connecting link that is Manitoulin Island’s vital year-round link to Highway 17 and the world beyond.

According to a recent announcement from the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) concerning the fund’s application-based component, the Town of Espanola will receive up to $1,316,931 toward the replacement of the Black Creek Culvert.

“We have budgeted 1,466,900 for this project with an additional $150,000 for the adjacent boardwalk known as the Al Secord Fitness Trail,” confirmed Espanola CAO Cynthia Townsend, who added that the town was hoping to finalize the tenders for the addition shortly.

Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario

TORONTO, March 5, 2015 /CNW/ – There is no better time than now to explore the great outdoors and tourism experiences in Northern Ontario. Through its current marketing campaign, the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) is encouraging visitors to “Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario” in 2015.

Working with tourism partners from Northern Ontario, the OTMPC campaign shares the endless, unique and awe-inspiring opportunities available in the North. A key piece of the marketing campaign is the distribution of 810,000 copies of the new Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario magazine. The magazine contains a distinctive ‘flip-the-book’ feature with half of the publication dedicated to activities across Northern Ontario’s regions and half dedicated to specific avid experiences such as angling, hunting, power sports touring and outdoor adventures.

The campaign is targeted at visitors from across Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and the United States. Northern Ontariowill be prominently featured at trade and consumer shows focussed on activities popular in the north such as fresh-water fishing, kayaking adventures and motorcycle touring. Urban areas of the North are providing travellers with ideas: visitors can enjoy a boat ride with beautiful scenery during the day, followed by a delicious culinary dinner and festival concert in the evening.

The magazine will also be directly distributed over the next few months to outdoor enthusiast subscribers of magazines such as Outdoor Canada, Maclean’s, Our Canada and National Geographic Traveler (U.S.).

Tourists are encouraged to visit www.ontariotravel.net/north to obtain more information on Northern Ontario tourism experiences and packages.

QUOTES“With its stunning landscapes and unique tourist attractions, Northern Ontario has long been a special destination for those who have visited. We are lucky to live in a great province with so many cultural, historic and eco experiences at our fingertips and I encourage everyone to enjoy them all. Consider choosing Northern Ontario for your next adventure – it’s closer than you think.”
— Honourable Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

“The North is truly one of Ontario’s gems. The beauty of the landscape and the experiences both indoors and outdoors will have visitors raving when they return home. OTMPC is pleased to partner with tourism stakeholders to share all the possibilities that Northern Ontario has to offer.”
— Ronald Holgerson, President and CEO, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation

“Northern Ontario is front and centre with the new campaign launched by the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation. Great outdoor products, cities, towns and attractions are all captured through thoughtful stories about why everyone should visit this part of our province. From fantastic fishing and hunting, touring experiences that are second to none and, of course, our nature and adventure product, the campaign is sure to entice travellers to the North.”
— Carol Caputo, Chair, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation Northern Tourism Marketing Committee

“Northern Ontario is a vast and inviting region with a diverse and dynamic tourism economy. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to work with OTMPC and our sub-regional partners on this important campaign featuring the Northern experiences that resonate with consumers.”
— David MacLachlan, Executive Director, Tourism Northern Ontario

“The best thing about the famous Canadian wilderness is that it’s closer than you think. Just two hours north ofToronto, you will find some of the most stunning natural landscapes in the nation, from iconic Algonquin Park in the east to sparkling Georgian Bay in the west. Head to the Explorers’ Edge region of Ontario to experience this province’s seriously great outdoors in a thousand spectacular ways.”
— James Murphy, Executive Director, Explorers’ Edge

QUICK FACTS

Visitors can obtain Explore the Possibilities in Northern Ontario magazine from an Ontario Travel Information Centre, by calling 1-800-ONTARIO, at SAIL stores throughout Ontario and by download.

External Links

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)

Fire and Ice Outdoor Gala in Sudbury

Sudbury’s Ramsey Lake will be transformed into a winter spectacle this weekend to raise funds for the YWCA Genevra House women’s shelter.

The inaugural Fire and Ice Outdoor Gala will take place near Science North and will feature figure skaters, musicians, horses, an ice bar, and a vintage snowmobile show.

Paul Kusnierczyk is one of the people behind the Fire and Ice Outdoor Gala. (Roger Corriveau/CBC)

“It’s going to be something Sudbury has never seen before,” organizer Paul Kusnierczyk said on CBC Radio’s Morning North. “This is something in the spirit of northern Ontario, the spirit of Sudbury. Embrace the elements.”

Kusnierczyk is one of three real estate agents at Royal LePage who are raising funds for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. That foundation will provide the funds to the YWCA Genevra House.

If I wasn’t writing this, I’d be in the bush

I was four when I dropped a hook and worm into Big Gull Lake off the end of a dock at my aunt and uncle’s camp.

Soon, a smallmouth bass inhaled the bait and bent the fishing rod. A moment later I was holding the fish up with a big smile on my face. I didn’t realize it then, but the real catch of that day was me.

I was instantly enthralled with fishing and it is also the exact moment my love for everything outdoors began.

Into the great outdoors

Wilderness Supply celebrates 20 years of bringing people into the wild

Rick Shone is the owner of Wilderness Supply Co., celebrating 20 years in business this year.

Article

It’s not an exaggeration to say it was a life-altering moment when Rick Shone first entered the Wilderness Supply store on Ferry Road as a customer in 2000.

A year later, Shone joined the store as a part-time summer employee, then he met and began dating Elysia Sjoberg, the daughter of Wilderness Supply’s owners, Frank and Jan Sjoberg.

Shone and Elysia eventually married and in 2009 he took over the business from his in-laws. Memories from those early days have Shone feeling nostalgic this year as Wilderness Supply celebrates its 20-year anniversary.

“When they opened in 1995, the store was probably less than 1,000 square feet and it was just jam-packed with canoes,” Shone recalled from the store, which has long since doubled in size by taking over a neighbouring tenant.

Like any small business owners, the Sjobergs took a risk when they turned their love of camping, paddling, and hiking into a full-time venture, but their success resulted in the expansion of two more stores in Thunder Bay, Ont., in 2004 and a second Winnipeg location in 2012 on Speers Road, just off Lagimodiere Boulevard.

Boasting “the largest selection of canoes, kayaks and SUPs (Stand Up Paddle boards) anywhere in central Canada,” finding enough floor space continues to be a challenge 20 years later.

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About Us

A northern Trail Symposium hosted by Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development, the Voyageur Trails Association and the Ontario Trails Council to bring together trail builders, planners and a broad range of stakeholders across Northern Ontario to meet in Sault Ste. Marie, April 26th and 27th, 2017.